Clothesline pulley



June 19, 1951 R. w. SHAW 2,557,572

CLOTHESLINE PULLEY Filed Sept. 24, 1947 7 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR l BY I I I J Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,557,572 CLOTHESLINE PULLEY Robert W. Shaw, Albany, N. Y. Application September 24, 1947, Serial No. 775,939

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to pulley construction and more specifically to the construction of pulleys used in supporting clothes-lines, the primary object of the invention being to provide a pulley which is so constructed and arranged that the clothes-line moving thereover, will automatically adjust itself with respect to the surface of the pulley, to insure the clothes-line being held taut at all times.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a clothes-line pulley wherein the surface thereof is provided with grooves to accommodate clothes pins on the line which are used in securing clothes to the line, with the result that the clothes may pass around the pulley and the line may be easily manipulated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a floating disc mounted at the upper end of the extension pulley, providing means to prevent the clothes line from running off the pulley at the tapered end thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an expansion pulley constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the pulley.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure l. v

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 13.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the pulley bracket is indicated generally by the reference character 5 and comprises preferably a rod formed with a downwardly extended right-angled end 6 and a threaded end 1 adapted to be embedded in a supporting surface, the end 1 having a rectangular enlargement 8 formed integral therewith adapted to be fitted in a rectangular opening of the collar 9, fitted over the bracket and secured thereto by means of the bolt I0. Screws H are provided, which screws extend through openings in the annular flange l2 of the collar 9 to further support the bracket and hold the bracket against turning with respect to the supporting surface.

The pulley proper comprises a body portion l3 constructed preferably of sheet metal and shaped to provide a fluted outer surface I 4. The body portion [3 is preferably frusto-conical in shape and hollow, upper and lower spiders l5 and I6 respectively being secured to the body portion adjacent to the ends thereof, the spiders I5 and I6 having central openings through which the rightangled end 6 of the bracket extends.

A cotter key indicated by the reference character I! extends through an opening in the rightangled end 6 of the bracket and provides a sup port against which the lower spider l6 rests, holding the pulley on its bracket. A cotter key indicated by the reference character l8 extends transversely through the right-angled end 6 of the bracket 5 at a point directly above and in contact with the upper spider l5, securing the pulley proper against vertical movement on its bracket.

Resting on the cotter key I8, is the floating guard disc 19, which is of a diameter greater than the diameter of the upper end of the pulley so that a portion of the disc extends beyond the periphery of the pulley providing a stop to prevent the clothes-line positioned on the pulley from passing over the end of the pulley and becoming displaced. In order that the disc I9 will be held against upward movement on the rightangled end 6 of the bracket 5, a cotter key 20 is provided, the cotter key extending through an opening in the right-angled end in contact with the upper surface of the disc l9.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a clothes-line pulley which will take up slack in the clothes-line operating thereover, to the end that the clothes-line will be held taut at all times.

Further it will be seen that because of the fluted construction of the pulley, grooves are provided for the reception of the clothes pins used in securing clothes to the clothes-line, when the clothes-line is rotated over the pulley.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: I

In a clothes-line pulley, a frusto-conical body portion having a fluted outer surface extending throughout the Width thereof, the fluted outer surface presenting rounded outer clothes line engaging surfaces with substantially wide flat surfaces therebetween, upper and lower spiders secured within the ends of the body portion, said spiders having bearing openings in which a pulley bracket shaft extends, a guard disc removably secured on the bracket shaft resting against one end of the body portion, said guard disc being of a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the body portion against which the guard disc engages, and said guard disc providing a stop against which the clothes line supported thereon engages.

ROBERT W. SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 627,563 Wright June 27, 1899 1,354,109 Kish Sept. 28, 1920 2,078,074 Haberstroh Apr. 20, 1931 

